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Mercy
2008-04-17 16:00
by Alex Belth

Today was the first great warm spring day of the year. It was downright hot in the sun. Dude, there was a lot of giggling out there if you know what I saying. It was just great. Beautiful night for baseball. Best of the season so far. Let's hope we get good Moose and not stewed Moose. And hope that Beckett isn't killin' it like he's wont ta do. Irregardless, as they say in the Bronx, let's hope they can get this in at a running time something this side of Shoah.

Let's Go Yan-Kees!

Comments (161)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2008-04-17 16:07:26
1.   OldYanksFan
Gamethread?
Jeez... it's lonely at the top.
2008-04-17 16:10:04
2.   Alex Belth
I still like roll call
2008-04-17 16:16:33
3.   Alex Belth
looks like bad moose...but...happy birthday!
2008-04-17 16:18:57
4.   Zack
Kay was just talking about Ortiz as a borderline HOF player. What do you guys think? Surely he has to do this for a few more years, no? 5 years a HOF career do not make...
2008-04-17 16:21:03
5.   ny2ca2dc
4 Not even borderline. No chance.
2008-04-17 16:29:37
6.   Zack
Is Moose stupid? Why would you give Manny a pitch to hit???
2008-04-17 16:31:05
7.   RIYank
Manny does rock.
2008-04-17 16:33:00
8.   Bob Timmermann
Bronx Alexanderplatz
2008-04-17 16:33:10
9.   bartap74
7 Well, he is about to become a free agent. Clubhouse cancer and all, he's a hell of a hitter.
2008-04-17 16:33:16
10.   Adrian
We just shouldn't let Moose pitch to Manny.
2008-04-17 16:33:40
11.   fansince77
5 I am not sure we can no chance. I would say one more championship and two more years of 120 + rbi's puts him in.
2008-04-17 16:35:02
12.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
8 Marriage of Maria Bronx
Manny..kills us but damn, what a hitter
2008-04-17 16:36:53
13.   Zack
11 Just two? I'd say forget the rbis, 3-4 more years of an OPS+ above 130, and yes. But anything less and you are talking about 6 or so years of top notch baseball, but if that doesn't get Mattingly in, it shouldn't get Ortiz in either...
2008-04-17 16:37:41
14.   Zack
Well at least Moose didn't yell at Melky for not catching that "fly ball"
2008-04-17 16:42:37
15.   OldYanksFan
People might like seeing Jason to straight away, but then you are dealing with a 400' wall. Giambi has a number of 370+' outs.
2008-04-17 16:49:32
16.   Zack
Not making much of an effort to get out of the way there, are you Jacoby?
2008-04-17 16:50:12
17.   RIYank
Ellsbury doesn't hit away from Fenway. Hitting him twice is criminal.
2008-04-17 16:50:30
18.   Zack
Can we please stop doing these pitchouts, as none of them have worked and often have been counter productive?
2008-04-17 16:51:01
19.   Adrian
Moose: Hitting Children Since 1900.
2008-04-17 16:53:00
20.   Zack
Ugh, what an ugly thing--give 1b to "the kid," let him run all over the place, and then give up a single to slappy mcbaldy
2008-04-17 16:54:12
21.   RIYank
Midgets will get singles. It's the free bases I hate. Moose is not supposed to do that.
2008-04-17 16:56:11
22.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
Kay going on about the Japan trip tiring out Ortiz and Mussina, etc etc. Aren't these guys athletes?? If I can get to work after a 15hr flight, why do these guys need "weeks" to get back to normal?
2008-04-17 16:57:29
23.   RIYank
There's a Vegas line tonight on which number will be greater: Ortiz' hits or Bruins' goals.
2008-04-17 16:58:46
24.   Zack
Yup, Moose is stupid
2008-04-17 16:58:47
25.   weeping for brunnhilde
Manny being Manny.
2008-04-17 16:59:17
26.   RIYank
Unbelievable.
2008-04-17 16:59:58
27.   bartap74
Anyone have a good recipe for cooked Moose?
2008-04-17 17:00:21
28.   RIYank
The first four pitches (to Manny, this AB) were in great locations. I looked away and missed the HR pitch. Was it down the middle?
2008-04-17 17:00:41
29.   weeping for brunnhilde
What do we do now?
2008-04-17 17:00:59
30.   weeping for brunnhilde
28 Indeed it was.
2008-04-17 17:03:40
31.   Zack
This is a game that I am ok losing, but I would really like Moose to actually go 6
2008-04-17 17:04:16
32.   Zack
The YES announcers were just killing Moose for his stubborn refusal to go inside to Manny
2008-04-17 17:04:26
33.   RIYank
27 Yes, I'd say there's a nice one in the Boston dugout, in fact.
2008-04-17 17:08:29
34.   weeping for brunnhilde
Right over the dish.
2008-04-17 17:08:37
35.   bartap74
Can't help thinking it's time to get Joba into the rotation - now.
2008-04-17 17:09:22
36.   weeping for brunnhilde
31 Impossible. He's already up to 75 or something.
2008-04-17 17:10:14
37.   RIYank
Yeah, someone in the pen has to take one for the team tonight. Moose can't do it, for sure.
2008-04-17 17:10:45
38.   RIYank
Hey, what about Farnsworth for three innings??
2008-04-17 17:11:22
39.   weeping for brunnhilde
38 How 'bout four?
2008-04-17 17:12:15
40.   OldYanksFan
38 How about until his arm falls off?
2008-04-17 17:13:03
41.   weeping for brunnhilde
I want to strangle Robby.
2008-04-17 17:13:43
42.   weeping for brunnhilde
Nice hit, Melk.
2008-04-17 17:13:45
43.   Maniakes
That was just a practice inning, right?
2008-04-17 17:16:36
44.   weeping for brunnhilde
Come on, can we please at least make this a baseball game?
2008-04-17 17:19:29
45.   RIYank
44 A baseball game would be a vast improvement, yes.
2008-04-17 17:28:37
46.   Zack
35 What? And give up those incredibly valuable 8th innings we so obviously need on nights like tonight?

But seriously, and people don't get why starters are more important than relievers???

2008-04-17 17:30:14
47.   RIYank
How many innings can Alba pitch?
2008-04-17 17:30:50
48.   RIYank
Or how many pitches?
2008-04-17 17:36:18
49.   Adrian
Man, every time I see Moose pitch I start thinking of Old Yeller. It'd be a mercy, really. Then we can acquire CC is a daring midnight raid.
2008-04-17 17:36:49
50.   weeping for brunnhilde
I love Leiter. He has a nice vaguely deranged quality to him when he describes pitching grips.
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-04-17 17:36:57
51.   Adrian
Yay-Rod!
2008-04-17 17:37:45
52.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
32 Were the YES guys really giving it to Mussina about his pitch selection?
2008-04-17 17:39:47
53.   RIYank
Wow. I don't think that was attributable to the shift, was it?
2008-04-17 17:42:05
54.   weeping for brunnhilde
That's enough.

I can't bear to watch this any longer.

2008-04-17 17:42:21
55.   bartap74
49 CC and his 10+ ERA? No thanks.
2008-04-17 17:42:31
56.   RIYank
Gulp.

I don't want Beckett to have a CG. We have to soak him for another twenty pitches next inning, even if we don't score.

2008-04-17 17:43:00
57.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
51 pitches for Beckett..don't think we'll get a shot at Timlin again tonight..
2008-04-17 17:44:08
58.   Adrian
55 Right, but there's potentially an upside to him, unlike Moose. Enough of an upside to put a bag over his head and abduct him from his apartment.
2008-04-17 17:47:01
59.   bartap74
58 Hey, if there's food in the bag he might come willingly.
2008-04-17 17:47:04
60.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
Is it unethical to just start throwing at Manny??
2008-04-17 17:47:42
61.   Max
This is one of the most anemic Yankee-RS threads on the Banter I've ever seen. Which just confirms 1) it's hard to get excited about this overhyped matchup in April and 2) just about everyone saw tonight coming, and decided to stay away.
2008-04-17 17:48:13
62.   RIYank
60 Simmer down. His Slugging Pct is down to 3.000 for this game.
2008-04-17 17:48:47
63.   RIYank
61 Yeah, I'm looking forward to The Office in a few minutes.
2008-04-17 17:50:18
64.   bartap74
Would it be unethical for the entire Yankee roster to feign injury and forfeit the rest of the game?
2008-04-17 17:50:31
65.   Adrian
JD Drew was abducted by aliens and replaced with some sort of baseball playing robot.
2008-04-17 17:51:04
66.   fansince77
Eish! goodnight everyone. Since the Yanks quit I reserve the right to do so as well.
2008-04-17 17:51:27
67.   RIYank
Alex was prescient with the title of this blog entry, huh?
2008-04-17 17:51:45
68.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
61 yep, I think I'll switch Gameday over to the end of the Mets game...
2008-04-17 17:53:29
69.   rbj
I just got in, wha happened? Was it a bad Moose night?
2008-04-17 17:53:37
70.   RIYank
Hey, here's a silver lining. We have finally achieved what bartap said was impossible: the game is Farnsworthproof!
2008-04-17 17:54:59
71.   RIYank
69 I think that's fair to say, yes.
Manny had two HR and 3 RBI in the first three innings. Moose also hit Ellsbury twice. Besides that, he was cruisin'...
2008-04-17 17:57:53
72.   OldYanksFan
Seems like Moose was back to throwing more FBs (medium balls) which is never a good idea. He also left a lot of balls over the plate. Remy was commenting on Moose's (poor) location since the 2nd inning.
2008-04-17 17:58:19
73.   mehmattski
I just caught up with my DVR recording. I had it mostly on fast forward. A few observations/comments:

1) Mussina is a scary fly-ball pitcher.
2) Stop pitching to Manny!
3) Just say no to CC Sabbathia. I said the same thing about Zito, and I was right, wasn't I?
4) Why is Beckett allowed to blow on his hands on the nicest day of the year? It's like 65 degrees out there.
5) More woeful hitting with men on base.
6) I couldn't tell from my fast-forward... are the Red Sox hitting good pitching, is Alby missing his spots, or just all around sucking?

2008-04-17 17:58:59
74.   mehmattski
Woo, way to drive the ball, Robbie!
2008-04-17 18:03:12
75.   Sliced Bread
To make this fair they should make Beckett pitch from the stretch... at second base... blindfolded.

Hey, Melk's awake! Make 'em work, kid.

2008-04-17 18:05:24
76.   Adrian
Who wants to take a bet on whether Jeter ends this rally? I've got a dollar that says he does.
2008-04-17 18:07:00
77.   Sliced Bread
nah, Jeet's is gettin' plunked here.
2008-04-17 18:07:26
78.   Adrian
Wow! Thanks, Youk!
2008-04-17 18:07:37
79.   weeping for brunnhilde
Yaayyy, Derek!
2008-04-17 18:07:40
80.   mehmattski
Hey, crooked numbers!
2008-04-17 18:07:41
81.   rbj
Yay Jeter! Make it a respectable game.
2008-04-17 18:08:06
82.   RIYank
76 Pay up.
2008-04-17 18:08:22
83.   mehmattski
76 Make the check out to www.adrianowesmeadollar.com.
2008-04-17 18:08:29
84.   Sliced Bread
nah, Jeet's is doin' the plunkin'.
Nice cut, Cap!
2008-04-17 18:08:38
85.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
Cue the Grand Funk Railroad! "You're my captain, yeah yeah yeah yeah"!!
2008-04-17 18:08:50
86.   mehmattski
82 I'll use it to buy you a jinx root beer.
2008-04-17 18:09:04
87.   RIYank
God that's nice. Now Beckett doesn't have "a gem". This matters a lot if you live in RSN.
2008-04-17 18:09:05
88.   weeping for brunnhilde
Yay, Bobby, Derek!!!

Al right, Team!

2008-04-17 18:09:09
89.   rbj
Way to play a single into a run scoring double, J.D.
2008-04-17 18:09:57
90.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
Yes! wipe the smirk off that Texan's face and keep it going A-Rod!
2008-04-17 18:10:19
91.   Adrian
82 83 You didn't take me up on the bet. Come up to Fenway to be my posse and I'll buy you guys a beer.
2008-04-17 18:11:00
92.   Sliced Bread
Let's go now, A-God. Jack this punk.
2008-04-17 18:14:45
93.   Adrian
So, the new bet is: in the event that we make it a close game, I have $1 that says if Farnsworth comes in he puts the game out of reach.

Limit 1.

2008-04-17 18:15:50
94.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
Beckett's ERA is now higher than Mussina's...I love early season stats...
2008-04-17 18:16:42
95.   RIYank
93 Hmmmm. Unlikely to come up.

I think you're making a mistake here. It's possible that you have an amazing power. You don't want to be using it frivolously.

2008-04-17 18:18:46
96.   Adrian
95 He's up in the BP.
2008-04-17 18:19:11
97.   weeping for brunnhilde
It's our old buddy getting up in the pen!
2008-04-17 18:19:39
98.   RIYank
Dammit. I knew I should have taken the Bruins. (See 23 )
2008-04-17 18:19:47
99.   Sliced Bread
F'wacker warming up. Fire up the kiln, and prepare the clay air pockets!
2008-04-17 18:20:30
100.   RIYank
96 Well, yeah, but it's not a close game. That's what I meant is unlikely.
Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2008-04-17 18:21:15
101.   rbj
That's not a big Papi, that's a grumpy Papi.
2008-04-17 18:22:42
102.   mehmattski
Thought folks would like to know: A-Rod's homer in the first yesterday traveled 457 feet. It was the sixth-furthest homer hit in the majors this season:

http://www.hittrackeronline.com/hrdetail.php?id=2008_20109

2008-04-17 18:31:46
103.   weeping for brunnhilde
Wow, check out Farnsworth!
2008-04-17 18:32:10
104.   Zack
Wow, well that was, um, just a bit inside
2008-04-17 18:32:42
105.   RIYank
103 Weird.
2008-04-17 18:33:17
106.   Adrian
Oh, that's why we keep him around/
2008-04-17 18:33:31
107.   OldYanksFan
Finally... A pitch Manny can't hit!
2008-04-17 18:34:51
108.   Zack
It would be foolish to charge the mound against Farnswacker, I would think...
2008-04-17 18:34:56
109.   rbj
Hmm, maybe they should pitch Manny just a bit inside more often.
2008-04-17 18:35:19
110.   Sliced Bread
'Wacker extinguishes Ramirez!
Way ta go, 10 Cent!
2008-04-17 18:36:31
111.   mehmattski
108 Should we ask Paul Wilson?

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/photo/photogallery/season_2003/0619/05.jpg

2008-04-17 18:36:40
112.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
109 I don't know..I like watching him hit 400ft homers on pitches over the plate...
2008-04-17 18:38:28
113.   rbj
Is this the second consecutive appearance for Farnsy, where he retired the side in order?
2008-04-17 18:38:37
114.   Sliced Bread
Money. Print it. In Farnsworth We Trust.
2008-04-17 18:40:02
115.   RIYank
113 I would say yes, but obviously that's impossible, so my memory must be faulty.
2008-04-17 18:41:38
116.   Just fair
What's up, all. I just got home from the game last night. Stayed at some in-laws in Queens and drove back upstate for the last 7 hours. I am sure as hell glad I wasn't at this one. Seeing you know what crush 2 homers off of cooked Moose woud have been too much to bear. Wow, nice inning Farsy. Looks like he's got comeback player of the year locked up. : )
2008-04-17 18:43:33
117.   Shaun P
Is everyone outside enjoying the nice weather? Or did Moose drive 'em away?

Beckett looks less imposing than I remember.

2008-04-17 18:44:22
118.   rbj
115 Yeah. I am seriously considering checking myself in somewhere for "mental exhaustion."
2008-04-17 18:44:29
119.   bartap74
I missed it - did Farnsworth hit Manny?
2008-04-17 18:44:38
120.   RIYank
117 He was very good early. I think he's tiring.
2008-04-17 18:45:38
121.   weeping for brunnhilde
Nice swing there, Johnny.
2008-04-17 18:45:44
122.   RIYank
119 Nah, but he definitely scared him. Inches from the chin.
2008-04-17 18:45:44
123.   Zack
111 Or Jeremy Affeldt. The video (crappy quality) here is still one of my all time favorites, especially listening to the announcers...
http://preview.tinyurl.com/6oux3y
2008-04-17 18:46:25
124.   weeping for brunnhilde
119 Nearly. Threw up around his neck.
2008-04-17 18:46:59
125.   bartap74
119 That used to be all it took to get Manny charging the mound. Maybe he's growing up?...................nah
2008-04-17 18:48:37
126.   RIYank
Just one inning for Farns?? But why?
2008-04-17 18:52:11
127.   weeping for brunnhilde
126 Because tomorrow is another day.
2008-04-17 18:53:47
128.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
127 Thanks, Scarlett.
more arguing on the Banter please. I'll start it off: Take Mussina out of the rotation now!
2008-04-17 18:54:15
129.   Sliced Bread
121 yeah, total pinata swing.
126 one's plenty, plus, he may have to take Moose's next start if we're being honest.
2008-04-17 18:56:16
130.   mehmattski
128 And Hughes. And Kennedy. And Wang. Just Every Day Andy Pettitte. Well, and Joba... but only for the eighth inning!
2008-04-17 18:56:30
131.   rbj
128 And replace him with. . . Igawa?

Joba, hopefully, will be starting in the second half. But basically having 3/5 of your rotation be rookies is a recipe for a not very good season. Just have Moose face bad teams.

2008-04-17 18:58:29
132.   weeping for brunnhilde
128 No, leave him in!--in fact, make him No. 1!
2008-04-17 18:59:24
133.   weeping for brunnhilde
130 Ha ha ha hah ah ah ah ah!!!

Good old "Every Day" Andy.

2008-04-17 19:01:16
134.   rbj
130 No, trade for Scott Proctor. And tell him he's the starter now. (Not "a" starter, but "the" starter).
2008-04-17 19:02:13
135.   mehmattski
131 I don't even know who the good teams are anymore. The AL Central is all backwards... the Marlins are leading the NL East. The Cardinals are 11-5 on the backs of Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick. It's craziness.
2008-04-17 19:02:48
136.   Shaun P
So . . . Tito doesn't trust his bullpen, huh?

OK, fine, he's probably just getting them some much needed rest, but I had to say something.

2008-04-17 19:02:54
137.   weeping for brunnhilde
134 Is EDSP still in LA? Are he and Joe together again?
2008-04-17 19:04:03
138.   RIYank
Our bullpen was/has been surprisingly good today. Maybe the Sox were just going through the motions?
2008-04-17 19:05:22
139.   rbj
137 Yup.
2008-04-17 19:05:41
140.   rbj
Signing off, good night all.
2008-04-17 19:05:58
141.   mehmattski
138 How soon you forget the performance of Albaladejo. Of course, if Johnny Damon catches either of those balls in left, it's a different story...
2008-04-17 19:10:18
142.   Shaun P
141 3 IP and 2 runs? First time he's pitched since they called him up (Monday). Was he that bad?
2008-04-17 19:13:28
143.   RIYank
I was even including Alba. The double hurt, but I thought he pitched pretty well. Anyway I thought it was promising, though not successful.
Alb -eit not successful.

Another saving grace of the evening: an 0-fer night for Papi. (And the Bruins got two goals.)

2008-04-17 19:15:36
144.   RIYank
God, look at the Detroit-Cleveland score. Horrible. The Tigers are a miserable team in pretty much all ways.
2008-04-17 19:16:10
145.   RIYank
Papelbon??
Do the Sox have the day off tomorrow?
2008-04-17 19:19:12
146.   mehmattski
142 A lot of line drives in the fourth and fifth, falling behind Youk, Manny, and Drew before giving up hits to all three. He seemed to calm down at the end of the fifth and into the sixth though. Nice slider to strikeout Pedroia in the fifth.
2008-04-17 19:23:04
147.   mehmattski
Well at least Jorge can still hit.
2008-04-17 19:23:20
148.   Shaun P
145 Nope, guess they want him to work.

Or he's the only one Tito trusts.

146 Thank you! I like that Girardi uses the kid for a lot of innings, and is making use of Traber too. Who pitches tomorrow, Hughes? Man I hope he goes 6+ IP.

C'mon, Cano!!

2008-04-17 19:26:33
149.   weeping for brunnhilde
How can such a good hitter be such a bad hitter?
2008-04-17 19:27:40
150.   weeping for brunnhilde
I love Leiter.

Oooooh!!!

Melkele!!!!!

Show/Hide Comments 151-200
2008-04-17 19:27:45
151.   Shaun P
MELKY!

Man, this kid is alright!

2008-04-17 19:27:55
152.   mehmattski
The Melkman delivers!

Welp, time to bring in the clos- oh, wait.

2008-04-17 19:28:12
153.   RIYank
Well, he's getting some work all right.
2008-04-17 19:28:27
154.   weeping for brunnhilde
Hey, it's Hideki.
2008-04-17 19:28:35
155.   mehmattski
152 Alternative response: Psh. Melky only hits meaningless ninth inning homers. Where's the game winners!
2008-04-17 19:29:55
156.   weeping for brunnhilde
And that's that.
2008-04-17 19:31:15
157.   RIYank
Okay, that was actually kind of fun. Buenos noches, amigos.
2008-04-17 19:32:16
158.   fansince77
That last pitch was so fucking outside. Actually he gave papelbitch two in a row there. That is a shitty job of umpiring. What a shame we didn't have a chance...not that it was deserved.
2008-04-17 19:34:40
159.   Shaun P
I wasn't watching closely enough on TV, but the Yanks seemed very unhappy with the ump's strike zone (Matsui's last AB, Abreu in the 8th, etc). Was this another ump who was all over the place?

One of the guys I work with - big Sox fan - told me today he thought the umpiring this year had been atrocious. He's watched every Sox game except one, and he's thought the home plate ump did a good job once or twice. I'm not sure why the umps seem to be calling the strike zone so poorly, but I hope it stops soon.

2008-04-17 19:41:03
160.   OldYanksFan
Verlander is 0-3, 7.03 ERA.
And you guys are worried about Phil and IPK?
Not to mention CC with an ERA of 13.5

Its early. The Universe will return to normal.

2008-04-18 07:37:54
161.   Raf
159 Maybe they need to bring back quest tech? Have the powers that be gotten rid of it?

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